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Post by kirsten on Dec 30, 2010 17:16:05 GMT 1
I hadn't realised barefoot horses are meant to have a special diet/no sugarbeet? My 3 are given a small feed daily of Fibrebeet with a vit and mineral supplement in. None of them seems footy or avoid the stony bits on paths when out. They just went barefoot this summer. Should I be feeding differently? Thanks for any advice!
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Post by merryberry on Dec 30, 2010 17:22:34 GMT 1
I didn't realise feeding should be different either. I'll read this with interest.
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Post by julz on Dec 30, 2010 17:23:37 GMT 1
Really??
well in that case I'd better stop feeding Jay-pony and his pals speedi-beet..................
Who told you that??
I'd say that if your horses are new to being barefoot, then possibly the hoof quality may need some help, so feed Biotin to help it... but if feet are otherwise fine and no footyness, I'd say just feed as your normally do and keep an eye on things...
I know plenty people who feed thier barefooters speedi-beet
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Post by Catrin on Dec 30, 2010 17:25:28 GMT 1
All horses need an appropriate forage based diet, regardless of whether they are shod or not. Shoeing can mask hoof pain and defects so that's probably why it seems that barefoot horses must be fed differently. You might find some useful clues to what keeps UK horses on their feet here www.bodrwyn.org/articles/guide_healthy_hooves.php
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Post by jes on Dec 30, 2010 17:32:08 GMT 1
Barefoot horses don't need a different diet, it's just that most people who have taken the shoes off their horses are aware that high sugar, high starch, high cereal feeds are not the best thing to feed most horses generally, for general health, not just for feet.
Whether my horses were shod or barefoot I would always feed a high fibre, low sugar diet, making sure they get the essential vits & mins that they need.
Speedibeet is fine to feed as it's unmollassed and high in fibre, as is Fibrebeet I believe.
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Post by kirsten on Dec 30, 2010 18:15:15 GMT 1
Thanks! Yes I am very aware that low sugar high fibre feeding is best. Its just that I read another post on here and there was mention of a barefoot horse maybe being taken off Speedibeet, I believe. Catrin - I'll have a look at the article, thanks. Thank you to all replies. x
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Post by taklishim on Dec 30, 2010 19:10:26 GMT 1
I hadn't realised barefoot horses are meant to have a special diet/no sugarbeet?
they're not and I don't think speedibeet or fibre beet are problematical. What has arisen however is that people have discovered that some, not all horses, have problems with going barefoot. It that happens to their horse then the first place to start looking for answers is diet ie sugar,. If your horses are sound then don't even think of changing their feed. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by anastasia55555 on Dec 30, 2010 19:16:51 GMT 1
I have used speedi beet with my barefoot bunch with no issues also feeding Dengie Hifi molasses free too which they love
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Post by 2 bays & a grey:D on Dec 30, 2010 19:20:21 GMT 1
I was recommended hoof mender for my 2 and I have to say the difference in their feet is very noticeable! it even has a money back guarantee that if you don't see a difference in 12 months they will refund all the money
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Post by jen1 on Dec 30, 2010 19:28:38 GMT 1
Thanks! Yes I am very aware that low sugar high fibre feeding is best. Its just that I read another post on here and there was mention of a barefoot horse maybe being taken off Speedibeet, I believe. Catrin - I'll have a look at the article, thanks. Thank you to all replies. x from my experience and each horse should be fed on there own merrits, one of my horses was very metabolic, thats a grey word for fck knows, ;D the basic common sense diet had to be tweaked to very low sugar and i belive it kick start him quicker into his feet healing that prolong it with sugar , and i triple washed his speedy beat, and fed alpha a and oil, but gave him token feeds and soaked hay, he lost weight looked awful but it was the detox he needed and looks wonderful with feet of steel, so my answer would be feed accordingly to the respose your horse is giving you , id be happy to pass on my experience if you would like to pm me, what does your trimmer say, i dont think your too far off the mark, your talking persifics ;D sp? (i cant speak it neither) and people seems to be taking it general and litrally , ive got 10 bf horses alll do well on it,
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Azrael
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,733
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Post by Azrael on Dec 30, 2010 20:50:04 GMT 1
I feed my barefoot horses all kinds of bad things like mollassed sugarbeet and mix, Mia even gets to eat lots of grass A very low sugar diet can help some horses that are footy and some people do use various supplements with success. Mine seem to be doing just fine without any special diet
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Post by gordo on Dec 30, 2010 22:25:51 GMT 1
Thru my ignorance, I have never changed G's diet and never had a problem with his feet and BF for nearly 5 years.
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Post by Yann on Dec 30, 2010 22:49:12 GMT 1
I personally think the determining factor apart from the horse itself is the pasture it's grazing on. What goes in the bucket isn't that big a part of the picture all in all.
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Post by gordo on Dec 31, 2010 12:30:52 GMT 1
I agree with Yann as the last field we were in, Gordo had abscess after abscess. Not had one in the 1 1/2 years we been at new place.
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Post by Louise C on Dec 31, 2010 13:24:45 GMT 1
What you're feeding sounds fine to me - Flynns been barefoot all his life and whilst he used to have mollassed SB he just has a balancer now and Magnesium as he keeps putting on weight but he never used to. Forage is the most important barefoot or not.
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